Multiple-jaw-setting attachment for steady-rests for lathes



w. s. AND w. E. McCONNELL.

MULTIPL E JAW- SETTING ATTAC M NT FOR STEADY RESTS FOR LATHES. APPLICATIO ED NOV- 28. I919.

1,378,253. atented May 17, 1921.

UNITED $TATES PATENT OFHCE.

WILLIAM S. MGCONNELL AND WILLIAM E. MGCONN ELL, OF KANSAS" CITY, KANSAS.

MULTIPLE-JAW-SETTING ATTACHMENT FOR STEADY-RESTS FOR LATHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921..

Application filed November 28, 1919. Serial No. 341,223.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, IVILLIAM S. MoCoN- NELL and IVILLIAM E. MoCoNNnLL, citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City{, in the county of lVyandotte and State of ansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Jaw-Setting Attachments for Steady Rests 'for Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to multiple-j aw set ting attachment for steady rests'for lathes, and our object is to produce an efiicient and accurate attachment which can be easily and quickly applied in or removed from position, and which can be manufactured and marketed at lowv cost.

With this general object in view,- the in vention consists in certain novel and useful features of constructlon andcomb1nat1ons of parts, as hereinafter descrlbed and claimed; and in .order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a View showing a steady rest in operative relation to a part assumed to be in a lathe, and also disclosing the attachment embodying the invention, with the jaws forming a guide bearing for the said part.

Fig. 2, is a central vertical section of the lower part is of inverted-arch form as at 3,

and is channeled in its upper side at 4, and provided at opposite sides with a hinge lug 5 and a locking lug 6. Pivoted to lug 6 at 7 is a-bail or loop carrying a clamping screw 8.

The upper part of the steady rest is in the form of an arch 9 conforming in size to part 3, and provided like the latter with an internal channel 10, which in conjunction with channel 4, constitutes a circular bearing for a part hereinafter identified. The arched portion 9 is provided with a hinge lug 11, hinged to lug 5, and a locking lug 12 to rest upon lug 6 and be inclosed by the bail or loop 7 and be secured in place by the screw 8.

Fitt g g y in the p n g P oduced 'nels of both by the two relatively inverted arched portions, is a sectional wheel 13 composed of two semi-circular halves fitting fiatly together and each provided with a peripheral rib 14 fitting in the circular bearing formed bythe grooves or channels 4 and 10, so that the wheel shall be capable of rotatable movement only, when the arched portions are fastened together. The faces of the sections of said wheel, at one side thereof, are formed with spiral threads or ribs which match or register at their ends to constitute a single continuousor unbroken scroll 15, and one of the sections is equipped with a handle 16 whereby the wheel can be readily turned, and to guard against rotation of the wheel, a set screw 17 mounted in the upper arched portion, may be caused to impinge upon the upper member of the wheel, it being obvious that either member may at times be uppermost (and that at times both members may simultaneously occupy or engage the chanarched portions of the steady rest.

The steady rest is provided with a plurality of radial tubular portions or guides 18, of angular form in cross section internally, and fitting slidably in said guides are rack bars 19 in engagement with the threaded face of the wheel, so that when the latter is turned in one direction the rack-bars shall be moved inwardly equal distances simuldirection said rack-bars shall be simultaneously moved outwardly equal distances. If desired the guides may be equipped with set screws 20 for impingement upon the rack bars to prevent movement thereof and hence turning movement of the wheel. In this connection however, it will be noted that if the thread of the wheel and teeth of the rack-bars are accurately made and fitted, the former will alone guard against endwise movement or play of. the latter. In this event the set screws 20, will perform no function and may be dispensed with. It will likewise be noted that if the parts mentioned are accurately fitted, the use of the set screw 17 may be dispensed with if means is provided to guard against endwiseplay or movement of the rack-bars.

The rack-bars constitute the multiple jaws of the invention, and are adapted to be brought to bear upon the part P, being operated on in the lathe. The invention is designed for use when the part I, is of Such length that it may sag between the tail and head stocks of the lathe, the jaws 19 being brought to bear on the said part at an intermediate point'in the length thereof and thus guard against its sagging and the engagement with one of the rack-bar jaws,

either the set screw of the latter or the set screw 17, guarding against rotation of the Wheel member and endwise movement of the jaw. The upper member can then be brought down on the lower member and so secured by the locking bail or loop 7. The

jaws are then adjusted by turning the wheel, until their inner ends bear firmly against the part1 to form a support therefor, and the latter can be instantly released from the steady rest, by swinging the upper member thereof to inoperative position.

From the above description in connection with the drawing, it will be apparent that we have produced a multiple jaw attachment for steady rests for lathes, which can be easily and quickly placed in or removed from position and accurately adjusted by anyone for the intermediate support of a part to be turned or operated upon in a lathe. It will also be obvious that the invention is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the principle of constructionandmode of operation, and hence within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

We claim:

A steady rest for lathes, comprising a portion for support on the lathe frame, pro vided with a semi-circular member having its inner side facing upward and circumferentially channeled between its side faces, a semi-circular member superimposed upon and inverted with respect to and of the same size as the first-named member and provided with an inner circumferential channel registering at its ends with the channel of the first-named member; said members having radial hollow guides in proximity to one face of said members, a sectional wheel fitting within said semicircular members and provided with a circumferential rib engaging said circumferential channels, and provided on-its face in proximity to said guides, with a scroll, raclnbars fitting slidingly in said radial guides and inter-meshing with saidscroll, and means for securing said ring in fixed relation as regards its upper member, to said inverted member; said semi-circular members being hinged together and detachably clamped together respectively, at diametrically opposite points. 1

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

WILLIAM S. MoOONNELL.

WILLIAM E. MOCONNELL. 

